Robert Peel

Robert Peel (5 February 1788-2 July 1850) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, succeeding the Duke of Wellington and preceding William Lamb, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846, succeeding William Lamb and preceding John Russell.

Biography
Robert Peel was born in Bury, Lancashire, England on 5 February 1788, the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer. He studied mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, and he entered the House of Commons in 1809 under the tutelage of his father and the Duke of Wellington. Peel became a rising star within the Tory Party, serving as Chief Secretary of Ireland from 1812 to 1818 and Chairman of the Bullion Committee. From 1822 to 1827, he served as Home Secretary, and he reformed and liberalized the criminal law and created the first modern police force, nicknamed the "Bobbies" in the UK and the "Peelers" in Ireland. During the Tories' time in opposition during the early 1830s, Peel became the new leader of the party instead of Wellington, and he became Prime Minister in 1834 when Wellington refused. Peel was the first prime minister from the new UK Conservative Party, and he cut tariffs to stimulate trade while also pushing through a 3% income tax. He also supported Catholic emancipation, changing his views from before. Peel's 1834-1835 ministry was backed by the Whigs due to his liberal stances, but his government collapsed after just four months in office. From 1835 to 1841, he was Leader of the Opposition, and he became Prime Minister again after the 1841 general election. His second government ruled for five years, and he banned children under the age of ten from working in mines, reintroduced the income tax, implemented a twelve-hour workday and a ban on night working for children and women, and enabled poor people to afford rail transport to work. His government was weakened by anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiment, and he resigned after joining the Radicals and the Whigs in supporting the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. He remained an important backbench MP and leader of the liberal-conservative Peelite faction of the Conservative Party. His faction would later join with the Whigs and Radicals in forming the UK Liberal Party in 1859.